Because of winter storm damage, the cost of a pound of apples at the l

Question

Because of winter storm damage, the cost of a pound of apples at the local supermarket has increased 40 percent while the cost of a pound of oranges has increased 20 percent. Therefore, apples are now more expensive than oranges.

The argument’s reasoning is questionable because the argument fails to rule out the possibility that

(A) before the storm, apples had increased in price less than oranges
(B) before the storm, apples had already been more expensive than oranges
(C) before the storm, oranges were significantly more expensive than apples
(D) apples will fall back to their normal price more quickly than oranges will
(E) consumers will reduce their purchases of apples until the price falls to below that of oranges

Source:   Nova GMAT  
Difficulty Level:   600

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Explanation

By concluding that apples are more expensive than oranges because the cost of apples went up a greater percentage, we implicitly assume that oranges were not much more expensive initially. For example, if apples were initially $1 per pound and increased 40% to $1.40 per pound while oranges were originally $2 per pound and increased 20% to $2.40 per pound, apples would not be more expensive.  The answer is (C).

As for (A), whatever increase in prices occurred before the storm has no effect on the results after the storm. With (B), if apples were previously more expensive and increased in price a greater percentage than oranges, they would be even more expensive. Finally, choices (D) and (E) have no impact on the current prices of apples and oranges.

CantDropThisTime · Answer

Hi

I do not agree with option C to be correct because of the following reasons.

There is no information about how much expensive orange was as compared to apple. Just using the word "significant" will not serve the purpose. In fact the use of this word is undermining the validity of option C.

For example
 Let's say the price of orange was 20 and price of apple was 10 before the storm. After the the storm the price of orange will be 24 (20% increase) while that of apple will be 14 (40% increase). We can see the orange is still more expensive than apple.

In order for option C to be correct it should have used "insignificantly/slightly" rather than "significantly". in which case even if the price of orange was higher than that of apple. it would become reverse after the storm.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

increase in apple prices = 40%
increase in orange prices = 20%

If we assume the original prices of apple and orange to be "A" and "O", then the new prices are --

for apples = 1.4 A
for oranges = 1.2 O.

From this the author concludes that apples are more expensive than oranges --

Conclusion 
  1.4 A > 1.2 O

the biggest flaw in drawing this conclusion is that we DO NOT KNOW the actual values of  A  and  O .

What if  O  is much more than  A ? then, I cannot say that  1.4 A  is greater than  1.2 O .

Which answer option states this?  Option C

let us take a look at other answer options --

Option A - Incorrect

this does not tell us about ACTUAL PRICES of apples and oranges -- because of this, we cannot make a proper comparison between the new prices of apples and oranges.

Option B - Incorrect

this actually strengthens the conclusion that 1.4 A > 1.2 O; not a flaw in the argument.

Option D - Incorrect

We are not concerned about what happens in the future but rather about the current prices.

Option E - Incorrect

We are only concerned about what the prices are NOW.

CantDropThisTime · Answer

Thanks CrackVerbalGMAT

It cleared my doubt

CEdward · Answer

C is the answer. Experts, I am wondering ...for numerical based CR questions, is it a must to do calculations and come up with sample numbers? Or is it sufficient to use logical reasoning of the verbal variety alone?

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